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To Natalie, at the Checkout

by  James Graham

Posted: Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Word Count: 127




I say thank you every time.
And if you make eye-contact, I say
'Thank you very much'.

Thank you, whose graceful hands
pick up, pick up, pick up,
and let the red eye know.

Thank you for coming here
to do the masquerade, the 'Hi',
as if you knew us all.

To be a moving part, to make
the thing go beep, and with your foot
to make the goods roll on.

'That's lovely', you say, of my
ten-pound notes, and 'Thanks again,
bye-bye'. Yes, au revoir, I'll

see you soon, we'll talk some more,
about my card and am I saving tokens,
and you'll spread another

poly-bag for me, and I shall lay
my lovely money in your palm,
and thank you, thank you very much.